Cannabis-Induced Psychosis: What Parents Need to Know
You don’t need to be paying attention to research to identify a link between cannabis use and psychosis, particularly for young adults. Although the research does suggest a meaningful link, anecdotally we’re seeing more and more young adults with acute, drug-induced psychosis. What we know is that their brains continue developing into their mid-to-late twenties and while the majority of people who use cannabis will never experience psychosis, we know that heavy or frequent use, especially of high-potency products, is associated with an increased risk of psychotic symptoms such as paranoia, hallucinations, delusional thinking, or a break from reality. This risk appears to be higher for those who begin using cannabis at a younger age, or have a personal or family history of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. Unfortunately, I often find in the work that I do that families either aren’t fully aware of their family history, or if they never disclosed to their young adult about their predisposition.
Today's cannabis products are far more potent with THC concentrations in some concentrates, and vapes reaching levels dramatically higher than what was typical even ten years ago. I’m sure you do a quick poll around your local hospitals or emergency rooms you’ll learn there has been a spike in cannabis-related psychosis episodes. As a parent, it's important to know the difference between a temporary, cannabis-induced psychotic episode and a longer-term psychiatric condition.
Some young adults experience acute symptoms, such as intense paranoia, disorganized thinking, or seeing/hearing things (auditory or visual hallucinations) that aren't there, during or shortly after use, which may resolve once the drug leaves their system. In other cases, particularly with heavy, sustained use, these symptoms can persist beyond intoxication and may signal the emergence of a more serious underlying condition. This is sometimes referred to as "cannabis-induced psychosis," and while it is not fully understood why some people are more vulnerable than others, researchers believe a combination of genetic predisposition, age of first use, potency, and frequency of use all play a role. It would not be accurate to say cannabis causes psychosis in everyone. Unfortunately, we’re seeing it far more frequently for a vulnerable subset of young adult. The high potency THC then acts as a significant trigger or accelerant to what may very well have been already bubbling under the surface.
If you notice your young adult exhibiting unusual suspicion, paranoia, disorganized speech, withdrawal from reality, or describing experiences that seem disconnected from what's actually happening around them, especially alongside regular cannabis use, it's important to take these signs seriously and seek a professional evaluation rather than assuming it will pass on its own. If your young adult has ADHD, the disorganization that came can with psychotic can sometimes be confused with inattentive or disorganization. Early intervention matters significantly in outcomes for psychotic symptoms, and a psychiatric evaluation can help determine whether what's happening is substance-induced, an early sign of a separate mental health condition, or some combination of both. Enrolling in a dual diagnosis program where you can have time to sober, while focusing on mental health treatment can provide the space to see if the psychosis clears. If it doesn’t, then the family understands that they are now needing to navigate long-term care for a young adult with a persistent mental illness.
If you aren’t sure where to begin to look for this, know that there are options. Also know that even if your young adult doesn’t believe they need help, you can provide support to get them into a safe environment for them to get the care they need. It requires clinically trained and sophisticated professionals that have navigated this before.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
